This mother’s day, I salute my fellow moms out there and wish that all moms become like you. Loving, caring, hardworking, and make smart choices for their children. Mother’s day also remind me of children who grew up without moms, are orphaned, or who have irresponsible parents. I pray everyday that children around the world experience a mother’s loving care and I salute every generous moms out there who extend their love to other kids and not just their own.

Fantastic moms, you deserve a break today. Happy mother’s day!

Moments like that are so special to me that I remember it like yesterday, even after 9 years. Anya’s first two years were spent here with us and I honestly thought of her as my own (until now!). It’s difficult to maintain our closeness as we are continents apart now but thanks to Skype (we also want to try video conferencing from ActConferencing.com), we get to talk like we’re in the same room. Anya is so smart just like us haha but she likes to play with dinosaurs and not barbie dolls. I can’t wait to see her again, last time was two years ago when they visited me and baby Ashton.

I am so proud of Anya who at 9, has so many achievements already. May it be awards from school, from playing a role in a stage play, to sports like swimming.

Happy birthday Anya, we love you so much

When I was a newbie mom, I tried scarves etc. but they only add to the hassle until I learned how to use clothing like these that keeps my privacy even when breastfeeding in public. Most of the time, the cuts are really flattering – choose light material and neutral colours like beige or gray. Neutral colors can easily go well with your existing wardrobe.

Check out other designs at cashmere gifts where I think they are also sold but you can get these at the nearest flea markets like Greenhills or your favorite department stores

Ashton was obviously overwhelmed and in disbelief, when Baby Bop and BJ appeared I could sense he wanted to cry tears of joy! Seriously! And serious was Ashton during the entire show but not during the half-time break when he dances to Barney songs while waiting. I was anxious to bring him alone, as in without any help as it was just me and Ashton sitting there. Thank God he was behaved the entire time and the show’s length was just right.

The setup was simple and the story revolved around visiting the perfectly purple planet where the King and Queen awaits Barney and friends. I like the stage setup for the purple palace which reminded me of French furniture, especially the royal thrones. When Barney and friends started to sing the I love you song, the toddlers went awww and I even saw a baby crying because Barney had said good bye. Ashton on the other hand, was excited to get out of the theater and boast of his experience.

He was really hyper inside the car and when we got home, the trip was worth it and we can’t wait to watch another show next time!

One of the funny moments we had was when Ashton stopped on his tracks to look for Hansel biscuits, those mocha filled cookies we loved during grade school – he now loves them too. We had to explain that we already grabbed one from the racks and at the cash register – Ashton personally removed that item from the cart to be paid. He also likes staring at the toys section with plastic cars and miniature harley davidson motorcycle accessories.

I love spending time with Ashton more than ever but I also miss those days when he was so tiny and tantrum-free haha I guess it’s all part of parenthood and I really look forward to spending more time together – so please don’t grow up so fast!

If your child doesn’t watch Barney, you should give it a try because it’s just so fun to sing and dance with your kid. It’s always one of our favorite bonding moments and sometimes, Ashton improvises musical instruments from his toys. drums from containers, a Peavey Bass from his plastic guitar, and a trumphet from his broken plastic flute.

It’s very important for me to nurture Ashton’s freedom of expression, without laughing at him or making him feel embarrassed. I think this is one of the reasons why kids suddenly stop dancing and singing, not to mention how awful they feel when they are compared to other kids.

So good luck mommies in nurturing your happy and talented children!

The hot kitchen made me wish I was enjoying a wave pool operated by giant goulds pumps. But Mr. Love-a-lot helped me out transporting these yellow cupcakes Ashton put him on top of the table while waiting for a taste test to happen.

Aside from yellow ones, I simultaneously baked fudge cupcakes as well. My husband enjoyed it at breakfast today, me – I woke up at 11.30AM. I guess all the baking knocked me out.

My sister Joni also baked some scones which her family enjoyed today. This is her daughter Anya and husband V. I like how we do the same stuff even miles apart. I sense some competition, do you?

Good morning grasshoppers!

Four small green grasshoppers keeping cool. I bet they scare off the aphids and ants, both are nowhere in sight. Aside from these green creatures, my eggplants are home to other bugs and spiders. Happy to give them a little sanctuary while I wait for my harvest. Just don’t eat all the leaves!

This makes me so happy and grounded in “real simple life”, how everything falls into place in nature when we don’t disrupt it, and the simple lasting joy it gives.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

This reminds me of a clinique perfume gifted to me, it’s called Happy and smells like summer citrus.

My other sister, who’s now an Aussie alpha-mom was just thinking the same. In a perfect world where kids are born 100% healthy and where money is not an issue, we would both already be having kid number two. It being just a day after Easter, I want to think only God knows the perfect timing and I should worry less about my family’s current head count.

How do you know when you’re ready for kid #2 or what do you think about having only one child?

I wish I had more insights especially from adults who were an only child and how was it like growing up without siblings. While I’m thinking about this, it’s a good time for me to head now to mom forum and check for related discussions It’s an international mommy site I just discovered during my staycation and I actually wish we had more like this. I enjoy contributing to discussions if time is not an issue and when I need to relax, I still hop to forums like GirlTalk just to be “in the know”.

I kind of think that sisterhood is really important to women and I’m clueless of how guys actually feel about having brothers at all. What do you think?

Then the rants stopped flowing through my brain and that includes how others don’t see, understand, and recognize the bleeding effort I put through each day. But then again, it’s not called personal sacrifice for nothing. Perhaps, we should own our sacrifices and not expect others to honor it, even our husbands or our children. It’s not important and it is not the point we are carrying our own cross. It’s a good time to think each of us have our own burdens and sacrifice, we are not alone. If it will make you feel a bit better, not everyone recognized Jesus’ sacrifice. He is the son of God, in fact, he owns everything in sight but he did not spend his days inside a 5-star hotel.

When I think about it now, the hardships and limitations mothers endure for their children are the good kind of sacrifice. I don’t want to say to my son, I sacrificed all my life for you because it sounds terrible, like it was an agony he was brought to this world. I enjoy sacrificing for my son to give him the best and I thank God he gives me the strength, wisdom, and opportunities to prosper our future.

If you ask me what types of sacrifices I am talking about, here’s one. I save like crazy while I am still earning and it’s ironic because I am a lover of all the finest things in life. It’s the hardest thing to do when I know I can spend rather than pay for insurance. But what about my child’s future? So I concede to saving, investing, working, and running a business all at the same time. Thinking about it, I enjoy all of these but who doesn’t dream of winning the lottery? And we know a blue moon has a higher chance of showing up rather than your lucky numbers!

So let me end on this note while I enjoy my sacrifice and use my afternoon reading about financial options at http://wholesaleinsurance.net